Sinner plays down expectations for Monte-Carlo: “We will take this week as a practice week, with matches”

Having won his first Grand Slam title in January and compiled a 22-1 record so far in 2024, it’s tempting to start thinking that Jannik Sinner is unbeatable. Novak Djokovic said this weekend that Sinner is the best player in the world right now and few would argue, the Italian adding titles in Rotterdam and Miami and climbing to a career-high No 2 ranking, within striking distance of Djokovic himself.

But the transition to clay, even for someone who grew up on the stuff, usually takes a bit of time and Sinner is as thoughtful off the court as he is dynamic on it. The 22-year-old has yet to make a Masters 1000 final on clay and knows that it might not be easy for him to hit the ground running at the Monte-Carlo Country Club this week.

Goal is “to be ready for Roland-Garros and Olympics”

“The expectations are are not that high for this for this beginning of clay,” he told reporters on Sunday. “The goal is to be ready for Rolanda Garros and then hopefully Olympics. This is…I guess for all all the players the goal, to try to be in top form there.

“We will we will take this this week as a practice week, playing with matches hopefully, hopefully more than one match but you know, it’s it’s gonna be interesting to see. I’m just happy to be here. It’s a special tournament and hopefully I can perform in in a good way.”

Sinner: “I’m confident I can be a good player on clay”

Twelve of Sinner’s 13 career titles have come on hard courts, with Umag in 2022 his lone clay success. The Italian initially said he struggles a little on the surface but when he expanded later, it’s clear he feels he can be a big threat.

“I said struggling because it’s not the surface where I feel that comfortable in general,” he said. “I feel more comfortable on hard courts, which doesn’t mean that I that I’m not a good player on clay. I played my first Grand Slam quarter-finals on clay, at Roland-Garros, I made quarters in Rome.

“So let’s see. Talking about last year, (it) was not my best season long clay. Hopefully I can change it this year. But you know, I’m confident that I can be a good player also on clay. It takes time for sure.

“I used to practice a lot on clay when I was 14 to 20. But then after most of the tournaments, they were hardcourt tournaments. So you play a little bit less but you know, I’m very excited to be here. I think if you make the clay with a good friendship, it can help.”

PRESSURE SEEMINGLY NO ISSUE FOR SINNER

A Monte-Carlo resident since he was 18, Sinner is sure to receive huge support this week, with the Italian border just moments away. His exploits in the past six months in particular, especially leading Italy to Davis Cup glory and then winning the Australian Open, have made him a household name in Italy and there is big interest in him wherever he goes.

And yet, Sinner seems able to handle the pressure, cope with expectations and remain humble. Unflappable on the court, he seems totally at home off it, too, able to produce his best tennis when he needs to, and relax off it when the time allows.

“The mental side is the only thing you can control throughout throughout the match or throughout your general life off court,” said Sinner, who is accompanied by coach Simone Vagnozzi this week, with Darren Cahill taking some time off. “But you also have to understand what’s happening. It’s easy to say, but then when you are in a very tough situation it’s it’s not easy sometimes.

“I try to control my mind and my head in in a way which which is helping me on court. So this for sure helped me, playing point by point, taking day by day, there is pressure but it’s a good kind of pressure and I’m very happy to be in this position and living also a normal life.

“I mean when I when I go off court and when I go out of the gym and I go home I’m a normal person and that for me is the most important. There is the work and and also the passion which I chose to do but then it’s also their their normal life. We are all normal people.”

Sinner will play either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Seb Korda in his first match in Monte-Carlo.

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